§ Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on primary care trust provision of mental health services. [163222]
§ Ms Rosie Winterton: Primary care trusts have a crucial role to play in both the commissioning and provision of mental health services. We know that up to one in four primary care consultations concerns a mental health problem and many people receive all their mental health care and treatment from their general practitioner.
In recognition of the importance of primary mental health care, the National Service Framework for Mental Health (1999) set two standards to deliver better services and to ensure the provision of consistent advice and help for people with mental health needs in primary care.
The NHS Plan (2000) set targets to put in place 1,000 graduate primary care mental health workers and 500 new community mental health staff by December 2004. The National Institute for Mental Health in England has established a work programme on primary care mental health.
1137WThese developments are complemented with investment in improving GP premises and increasing the number of GP registrars. Last year, the NHS Plan target to put in place 550 GP registrars by March 2004 was met more than nine months early and we now have 637 more GP registrars in post than in 1999.